# US 5,700,688 A · Method for producing oriented connective tissue cells

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- Number: US 5,700,688 A
- Document ID: US5700688A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/488,134
- Filed: 1995-06-07
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1989-05-10
- Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Inventors: Raphael C. Lee; David Huang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700688A

## CPC

- A61L 27/3804: {characterised by specific cells or progenitors thereof, e.g. fibroblasts, connective tissue cells, kidney cells}
- A61L 27/38: {containing added animal cells (organs or tissue containing native cells A61L27/36)}
- A61L 27/386: {Ligaments, tendons}
- C12M 21/08: {for producing artificial tissue or for ex-vivo cultivation of tissue (prostheses A61F2/00, grafts A61L27/00)}
- C12M 35/04: {Mechanical means, e.g. sonic waves, stretching forces, pressure or shear stimuli}
- C12N 5/066: {Tenocytes; Tendons, Ligaments}
- A61F 2/08: Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments
- C12N 2501/15: Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)
- C12N 2533/54: Collagen; Gelatin
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

The present invention pertains to a mechanical testing apparatus for determining the mechanical properties of an oriented tissue-equivalent, while simultaneously providing a suitable cell culture environment. The mechanical testing apparatus comprises an incubator equipped with means for controlling the atmosphere and means for controlling the temperature inside said incubator. Located within the incubator chamber are means for securing, in a desired location, the oriented tissue-equivalent to be mechanically tested. Further, the apparatus is equipped with means for controlling the length of the oriented tissue-equivalent, means for determining the force generated by the oriented tissue-equivalent, means for determining the length of the oriented tissue-equivalent and means for conditioning and recording force and length measurements.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mechanical testing apparatus for determining the mechanical properties of an oriented tissue-equivalent, while simultaneously providing a suitable cell culture environment, comprising:
means for providing a continuous supply of culture medium to the oriented tissue-equivalent;
an incubator;
means for controlling the atmosphere inside said incubator;
means for controlling the temperature inside said incubator;
means for securing the oriented tissue-equivalent;
means for controlling the length of the oriented tissue-equivalent;
means for determining the force generated by the oriented tissue-equivalent;
means for determining the length of the oriented tissue-equivalent; and
means for recording force and length measurements.